The Strongest Mythical Emperor
Chapter 87: The Green Lotus Sword Immortal

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Green Lotus Sword Immortal

"Such forthrightness from a great immortal; you’re making me blush,"

Qin Jun feigned humility, eliciting a twitch at the corner of Evening Star’s mouth as he hastily changed the subject, "I don’t know where Your Highness wishes to go, but from now on, with my company, I’ll ensure everything goes smoothly for Your Highness!"

He truly was a celestial diplomat, sweet-talker down to the core!

"With the great immortal’s assistance, I feel there’s nothing in the world that can stop me!"

"Oh please, Your Highness, you have such good fortune that I’m sure many more powerful beings will come to assist you in the future."

"It’s better to send charcoal in snowy weather than to add flowers to brocade. At critical times, your assistance, great immortal, is worth a thousand times more than those others in the future!"

"Your Highness exaggerates. With those few by your side, not to mention in the Qianyue Kingdom, even within the Nanzhuo Dynasty, no one could possibly trouble Your Highness."

The two of them exchanged compliments incessantly. As Qin Jun controlled the cloud under his feet to fly towards Daji and the others, he verbally sparred with Evening Star. Neither felt tired, but rather invigorated, as if they had finally met their match.

"Youth is to be feared indeed!"

Evening Star inwardly sighed, but his mouth wouldn’t admit defeat. He lavished Qin Jun with praises that knew no bounds. But Qin Jun, hailing from an Earth era of information overload, had endless quips at his disposal, which pleased Evening Star greatly.

Qin Jun also secretly marveled at Evening Star’s exceptional skill in verbal evasion, and most importantly, how the old man didn’t blush in the slightest no matter how he was flattered.

"By the way, do you know Li Bai, Evening Star?" Qin Jun suddenly shifted the conversation.

The origins of Evening Star are varied; some on Earth in Huaxia say he is Laozi’s brother, while others say he is Li Bai. In ’Journey to the West,’ Evening Star is referred to as Changgeng, which means Venus, and the surname Li is the source of that misunderstanding.

In the ’Preface to the Thatched Cottage Collection’ by Li Yangbing, it is written: "At the beginning of the Shenlong era, he fled to Sichuan. Then, pointing at a plum tree, he was born to Father Li, and during the night of surprise in the Jiang Clan, Changgeng entered the dream, hence he was named Bai (’White’) and styled himself Tai Bai. The world calls it the essence of Tai Bai, and indeed they have it right."

Fan Chuanzheng also recorded: "Your Excellency was born when his lordship pointed towards the branches of heaven to reclaim his surname, and his lady dreamed of Changgeng foretelling auspiciousness, thus he was named and styled in accordance with the images."

Historically, it is recorded that Li Bai’s mother dreamed of Evening Star, which is why she named her son Li Bai and styled him Tai Bai. In the Tang Dynasty, he was informally known as the banished immortal among people, and Li Bai, fond of poetry and swordsmanship, was thus also known as the Poet Immortal and Sword Immortal. However, in ’Journey to the West,’ during Evening Star’s assistance to Sun Wukong’s journey to the West, the Tang Dynasty had already been established, and Li Bai indeed existed, creating a contradiction. Of course, ’Journey to the West’ is fiction, and it’s impossible to say who is real and who is not, leaving it to each according to their own perspective.

"Your Highness, how do you know my disciple Li Bai?" Evening Star said in disbelief. This place was so far from overseas that it was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people; had Evening Star not possessed the power of the Immortal Realm, he would not have been able to arrive so swiftly.

"You really have a disciple named Li Bai?" Qin Jun was unsettled. Could it be that all the gods and demons summoned by the system already existed in this world but simply had their memories erased?

Evening Star stroked his beard and proudly said, "Certainly, my disciple Li Bai is extremely renowned in the coastal regions of the Southern Domain, known as the Green Lotus Sword Immortal!"

The Green Lotus Sword Immortal, Li Bai!

A spark of recognition flashed in Qin Jun’s eyes; indeed, it was him. The Poet Immortal Li Bai was known to call himself the Layman of the Green Lotus.

"Great immortal, could you possibly summon your disciple as well? If one day I become emperor, I will surely grant your disciple titles and honors!" Qin Jun rubbed his hands together and chuckled. Li Bai was famously inclined towards officialdom; most of his poetry expressed his feelings of unrecognized talent and his concerns about being far from the Imperial Court yet caring deeply for the state.

If it were about literature, Li Bai would undoubtedly be a giant, but Qin Jun could not guarantee his administrative abilities. However, as Evening Star’s disciple and known as the Green Lotus Sword Immortal, his cultivation must be no small matter!

Evening Star found himself in a difficult position. After pondering for a moment, he tactfully declined, "My junior disciple has already graduated; I cannot interfere with his will. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness."

So much for that.

What a kind mentor!

"How about this? You relay a message to him. Whether he comes is up to him. My goal is to establish a divine court that surpasses both heaven and earth!" Qin Jun stepped back in his approach, not wanting to be too pushy and risk the opposite effect.

Upon hearing this, Evening Star had no choice but to agree. With a flick of his Dust Brush, a beam of white light vanished in the blink of an eye, faster than the eye could see.

The capabilities of the Immortal Realm were truly miraculous.

Qin Jun watched enviously but didn’t inquire about the spell, as having Evening Star invite Li Bai was already the biggest concession he could make.

After all, there was plenty of time in the future!

...

"Old baldy, don’t be ungrateful!"

Daji said coldly, as Roaring Sky Dog and Cangjun Wolf beside her glared menacingly at Fa Hai. The surrounding guards looked at each other uncertainly, none daring to speak out.

Jia Xun and Qin Yun felt the same; earlier, Xuanshang had left them angry yet unable to voice their protest, and now facing Xuanshang’s mentor, they dared not even more.

Fa Hai said indifferently, "Let us wait for His Highness’s return, and then we shall see who is superior. With me here, His Highness does not need you demons!"

Daji and Roaring Sky Dog were both proud and haughty creatures. Even Qin Jun treated them with respect, so how could they tolerate Fa Hai’s aggressive remarks.

"Hmph, when Young Master returns, I’ll tear you to pieces!" snarled Roaring Sky Dog, its tone chilling. At full power, with its cultivation of the Earth Immortal Realm, it indeed had the strength to do so.

Fa Hai shut his eyes and continued to chant Buddhist scriptures as if he had already sealed the fate of Daji and Roaring Sky Dog.

Jia Xun and the others were extremely nervous. Whether it was the formidable but unknown power of Fa Hai, or Daji and Roaring Sky Dog, both formidable demons, they were filled with dread.

After a while, Qin Jun finally returned, bringing with him a kind and amiable old man with white hair.

"What’s happening here? The atmosphere seems a bit tense?"

Upon landing, Qin Jun asked with a smile, noting the friction between Fa Hai and Daji’s group but still feigning ignorance.

The appearance of Fa Hai was a wake-up call for him; future internal strife was a possibility he must handle properly now to avoid bigger issues later. Even though they all submitted to Qin Jun, he was not strong enough to stop Daji and Roaring Sky Dog if they were truly enraged.

Fortunately, he had summoned Evening Star this time; it was imperative to make an impression!

"Your Highness, one cannot trust demons, especially demon kings. With their vast power, if they harbor malice, the consequences could be dire!" Fa Hai spoke first, his Dharma Sound Golden Bowl at the ready.

Qin Jun’s lips twitched; Fa Hai, indeed from the ’Legend of the White Snake,’ remained obstinate.

"Hmph, how does Young Master know you don’t have ill intentions?" Daji retorted contemptuously, turning Fa Hai’s face sour.

"Enough! Under my command, no distrust of one another is allowed. You have not lived with each other; how can you judge another’s character?" Qin Jun said, annoyed. He had to establish his authority as their lord today. Otherwise, it would only cause problems later.

"But they are demons..." Fa Hai insisted anxiously, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Evening Star, who had been quiet until now: "That’s not correct! All things have spirits, and humans can be good or bad, so why not demons? You should not generalize."

"And who might you be?" Fa Hai asked Evening Star, his tone grave.

How could one beneath the Illusory Realm understand the dread of the Immortal Realm?